Thursday, 14 June 2012

The Poetical Stele of Tuthmosis III

The Egyptian Museum contains many wonders,
so many in fact that most are passed un-noticed by the thousands of visitors
that enter each day; some of the most important objects in the museum are
unobtrusive, silently waiting to be rediscovered.

Take for example the Poetical Stele of
Tuthmosis III – originally from the Temple of Amun at Karnak and now in Room 12
of the museum’s ground floor among other objects from the 18th
Dynasty. It was found broken into two large pieces of granite (CG 34010 and JE
3425), and originally stood 1.70m tall. Although not as immediately impressive
as the nearby statues of Tuthmosis III, Amenhotep II, and Senenmut, it displays
an inscription that highlights the close personal relationship between king and
god. The scene at the top of the stele, in the lunette, emphasises this message
for those unable to read the content – below the winged sun-disc can be seen a
dual image of the king accompanied by a goddess, both offering to the god Amun.

The inscription below is presented as a
speech of Amun, who welcomes the king into his sanctuary at Karnak, calling Tuthmosis
‘his son, his avenger,’ and embracing him. Amun states that he will give Tuthmosis
victory over all lands, and, in fact, has already made his previous victories
possible. He tied up the Nubians and northerners for the king to defeat, and
caused them to fall beneath his feet to be trampled. Due to his divine action,
Amun continues, all foreigners will come to the king bringing tribute on their
backs.

Amun then relates his happiness at
Tuthmosis’ military victories, before making a series of poetical statements,
each following the same general structure. With each line Amun gives Tuthmosis
dominance over a different part of the world, and causes the people of each
area to witness him as a particular phenomenon or creature, each vividly
described. Thus, the people of Djahy (in modern Lebanon) see the king as
radiant light shining down upon them as the sun’s rays; while those in the
Eastern Land and in God’s Land see the king as a shooting star that scatters
its flame as fire. Those at the limits of the north were to see the king as
falcon-winged, as one who could seize what he sees as he desires, while those
who lived in the borderlands and the Bedouin would see the king as an Upper
Egyptian jackal - a possessor of speed.

Amun performs these wondersfor Tuthmosis because he, in return, does all
that the god desires – the text relates how Tuthmosis had performed work within
the temple at Karnak, including building large new doorways, in honour of his
god. It thus highlights the nature of the king’s relationship to Amun in the
New Kingdom: it is reciprocal. Both act for one another for the greater glory
and benefit of Egypt. This stele is a powerful and poetic insight into the
nature of New Kingdom thought, and illustrates a very personal moment between
the king and his god.

About Garry

I am an Egyptologist, Lecturer and Author, writing on ancient history, travel and heritage.

I am the author of The Pharaoh: Life at Court and on Campaign, The Egyptian Myths: A Guide to the Ancient Gods and Legends, and War and Trade with the Pharaohs: An Archaeological Study of Ancient Egypt's Foreign Relations.

I have taught Egyptology at the American University in Cairo, the University of Liverpool, the Egypt Exploration Society, and as a part-time tutor for Oxford University's Department for Continuing Education. As an archaeologist, I've worked for fieldwork projects in Egypt, Turkey, and the UK.

My work has appeared in The Independent, The Art Newspaper, Apollo Magazine, History Today, Timeless Travels, Current World Archaeology, Science Magazine, B.Inspired (Brussels Airline Magazine), and Showbiz Culture (SC Exhibitions Magazine), among others.